Child-proof capsule with security strip

ABSTRACT

A child-proof capsule with a security strip includes an internal cap which can be removably applied on a neck of a container. An external cap is applied and constrained on the internal cap. The external cap is free to move in an axial direction from a first position in which free rotation is possible between the caps to second position in which the caps are solid in rotation. The security strip is made in a single piece with the internal cap and is of annular shape with a V-section. When the capsule is mounted on the container, a free circumference of the security strip engages with an annular projection fashioned on the container. In a connection zone between the security strip and the peripheral edge of the internal cap there is a plurality of circumferential cuts, not conjoined, which occupy all of the connection zone.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The capsule is useful in all packaging where a child-proof opening isrequired.

BACKGROUND ART

The prior art comprises child-proof capsules in which the opening can beachieved only following a succession of co-ordinated movements which aredifficult for a child below a certain age to perform.

These embodiments comprise an internal capsule, provided with means forconnecting, normally of a screw-type, which enable the internal cap tobe removably applied on a container, and an external cap which coversthe internal cap when applied thereon. The external cap is constrainedto the internal cap in such a way that there is freedom of rotation (asecurity situation known as child-proof) or solidarity of rotation withthe internal cap according to distinct relative axial positions whichthe external cap can assume in relation to the internal cap. Child-proofcapsules have existed for a considerable time in the prior art and onthe market, which are provided with an easy-break security strip asproof of first opening, associated directly to the external cap of thecapsule. One of the capsules is described in Italian patent IT 1.187.213by the same applicant. This type of capsule, apart from requiring rathercomplex dies for its realisation, also exhibits the drawback of possiblebreakage of the easy-break ribs which keep the security strip joined tothe external cap. Accidental pressure on the external cap, which canslide axially to activate the child-proof property, can also provoke adetachment of the security strip without the container being opened, orwithout there being any real intention to open the container.

There are other known types of child-proof capsule, which are howeveroften assembled from a large number of individual pieces and thereforerequire the use of complex and expensive dies for their realisation.

The main aim in the manufacture of capsules in general, and in therealisation of the present capsule in particular, is to make realisationthereof ever-more economical, with embodiments that gradually reduce thenumber of separate pieces needed for their construction, using thesimplest equipment possible, while not sacrificing working-life of theproduct and high productivity in its manufacture.

A further aim of the present invention is to provide a capsule of thechild-proof kind which does not exhibit the risk of accidental breakageof the security strip. An advantage of the present invention is toprovide a child-proof capsule made of only two parts.

This aim is achieved by the process of the invention, as it ischaracterised in the appended claims.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention willbetter emerge from the detailed description that follows of a preferredembodiment of the invention, illustrated purely by way of non-limitingexample in the accompanying figures of the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a partially sectioned view in vertical elevation of theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a detail, in enlarged scale, of the capsule of FIG. 1.

With reference to the figures of the drawings, 1 denotes a containerwith a mouth and a neck 2, which is closed by means of the child-proofcapsule 3 of the invention, comprising an internal cap 4 with aninternal thread 6 for screwing onto a corresponding thread 7 fashionedon the neck 2 of the container 1. An external cap 5 is applied on theinternal cap 4.

In the position illustrated in the figures of the drawings, i.e. thechild-proof safety condition, the external cap 5 is in a first position,in which it is free to rotate about the internal cap 4. This position isachievable depending on the relative axial positions of the external cap5 and the internal cap 4—a position which is maintained by means 8 whichelastically keep the external cap 5 raised with respect to the internalcap 4.

When pressure is exerted in the direction indicated by the arrow 13 onthe external cap 5, the external cap 5 moves downwards into a secondposition, not illustrated, and an internal cogging 9 fashioned on theupper part of the internal surface of the external cap 5 meshes with anexternal cogging 10 fashioned on the upper external surface of theinternal cap 4. In this second position no reciprocal rotation can beachieved between the external cap 5 and the internal cap 4; it istherefore possible, by pressing on the external cap 5, to unscrew orscrew the internal cap 4 from or onto the neck 2 of the container 1. Theabove description is also true of other childproof capsules of knowntype, like those disclosed in EP-A-0 963 916, EP-A-0 127 943, U.S. Pat.No. 5,676,268, U.S. Pat. No. 6,372,167.

The capsule of the invention comprises a security strip 12 which is madein a single piece with the internal cap 4, as an appendix on theperipheral edge 4 a thereof facing the container 1.

The security strip 12 exhibits an annular shape with a V-section. Thereare therefore two circumferences of the security strip 12: a firstcircumference 12 a of which is connected in a connection zone, with theperipheral edge 4 a of the internal cap 4; and a second circumference 12b of which is free and engages, when the capsule is mounted on thecontainer 1, with an annular projection 15 which is fashioned on theoutside of the neck 2 of the container 1.

The connection zone between the security strip 12 and the peripheraledge 4 a of the capsule exhibits a plurality of circumferential cuts,not joined together, which occupy the whole connection zone between thestrip 12 and the peripheral edge 4 a of the capsule. The cuts 16 are infact mechanical incisions in the connection zone between the peripheraledge 4 a of the capsule and the security strip 12 and are separated byuncut zones 17, of a thickness comprised between 0.1 and 1.0 mm.

In this way in the connection zone between the peripheral edge 4 a ofthe capsule and the security strip an easy-fracture line (or rather acircumference) is created, which will break when stressed as will bebetter described hereinafter, and thus cause a detachment of the strip12 from the internal cap 4.

Manufacture of the internal cap 4 and the security strip 12 in a singlepiece, having the above-described characteristics, can be done bypress-forming and subsequent mechanical operations, for examplefollowing the process described in Italian patent IT 1.292.751. To thisend the internal cap 4 with connected security strip 12 is made of apressable plastic material.

The internal capsule 4 and the security strip 12 as above-describedcould, however, be made using other processes.

The capsule of the invention further comprises an annular projection 18which is fashioned on the internal upper part of the internal cap 4 andis coaxial to the internal cap 4. The annular projection 18 is arrangedso as to interfere, when the capsule is mounted on the container 1, withthe internal wall of the neck 2 of the container 1; in this way theannular projection 18 guarantees sealed closure of the container 1 whenthe capsule is mounted thereon. This means that it is not necessary toinclude a seal, which in known capsules is constituted by a small discwhich realises a “top” seal on the mouth of the container, and which isgenerally inserted either as an individual piece or as a pressure-gluedelement on the upper internal wall of the internal cap 4. Thus with thepresent invention an even greater reduction in the number of piecesneeded is achieved, with a reduction in manufacturing and work times, asthe annular projection 18, differently to the “top” seal, can befashioned directly during the press-forming stage of the internal cap 4.Obviously, however, a normal “top” seal disc can be used, although itcalls for use of a further and separate element.

The capsule of the invention, provided with the annular projection 18,is made in two pieces only, which are assembled by pressing the internalcap 4 into the external cap 5. If a seal disc is to be added, it isinserted or afforded internally of the internal cap 4 before theinternal cap 4 is press-inserted into the external cap 5.

As mentioned herein above, in the position of FIG. 1 the external cap 5is free to rotate about the internal cap 4, since the coggings 9 and 10are not enmeshed. By exerting a pressure in the direction indicated bythe arrow 13 on the external cap 5, the external cap 5 is axiallydownwardly displaced and the cogging 9 enmeshes with the other cogging10. In this situation, as all relative rotation between the internal cap4 and the external cap 5 is now inhibited, by screwing or unscrewing theexternal cap 5 the internal cap 4 will screw onto or unscrew from theneck 2 of the container 1.

On first opening of the container 1, the raising of the internal cap 4causes contrast between the second free circumference 12 b of thesecurity strip and the annular projection 15 on the outside of the neck2 of the container 1, causing the uncut zones 17 to break and thedetachment of the security strip from the internal cap 4, signifyingthat the container 1 has been opened.

As the security strip is solidly constrained to the internal cap 4, anaccidental pressure, which is not intended to break open the container1, causes no stress on the uncut zones 17 and therefore no accidentaldetachment of the security strip. The strip can only be detached fromthe internal cap 4 when, after the external cap 5 is lowered, there is adeliberate rotation thereof causing the internal capsule 4 to unscrewfrom the neck 2, i.e. when there is a deliberate intention to open thecontainer 1.

Thus with the capsule of the invention the aim of preventing accidentaldetachment of the security strip is achieved; also attained is the aimof making a manufacturing economy during construction of the capsule,which is obtained thanks to a limited number of pieces constituting thecapsule and to the possibility of obtaining these pieces directlythrough press-forming and with relatively simple dies, thanks to thespecial shape of the internal cap 4.

1. A child-proof capsule with a security strip, comprising an internalcap (4), provided with means for connecting which enable removableinsertion thereof on a neck (2) of a container (1), on which internalcap (4) an external cap (s) is arranged, constrained to the internal cap(4) with freedom to displace axially from a first position in which theexternal cap (5) can rotate freely relative to the internal cap (4) intoa second position in which the external cap (5) and the internal cap (4)are reciprocally solid in rotation, wherein the security strip (12) ismade in a single piece with the internal cap (4) as an appendix on aperipheral edge (4 a) of the internal cap (4) facing the container (1)and a free circumferential edge (12 b) of the security strip (12)engages, when the capsule is mounted on the container (1), with anannular projection (15) fashioned on an outside of the neck (2) of thecontainer (1), characterised in that the security strip (12) is of anannular shape with a V-section; and exhibits, in a connection zone withthe peripheral edge (4 a) of the internal cap (4), a plurality ofcircumferential cuts (16), not joined together, which occupy all of theconnection zone between the security strip (12) and the peripheral edge(4 a) of the internal cap.
 2. The capsule of claim 1, wherein thecircumferential cuts (16) are constituted by mechanical incisions in theconnection zone between the peripheral edge (4 a) of the internal cap(4) and the security strip (12).
 3. The capsule of claim 1, wherein thecircumferential cuts (16) are separated by uncut zones (17) having abreadth of between 0.1 and 1.0 millimetres.
 4. The capsule of claim 1,comprising an annular projection (18), coaxial with the internal cap (4)and fashioned on an upper internal part thereof, which interacts with aninternal wall of the neck (2) of the container (1) when the capsule ismounted on the container (1).
 5. The capsule of claim 1, wherein theinternal cap (4) is made of a plastic material which is susceptible topress-forming.